The Island Shaped Like the Character for 'Heart' — Reachable Only by Boat: Jisimdo
Fifteen minutes by boat from Jangseungpo Port in Geoje, South Gyeongsang Province, the first thing visitors notice after stepping onto Jisimdo's pier is the quiet that settles in once the engine cuts out. Visitors describe hearing nothing but birdsong and wind moving through the trees.
This column has already featured two bridge-connected islands, Byeongpungdo and Banwoldo/Bakjido in Sinan. This time it picked an island with no bridge at all, reachable only by boat — because with just five sailings a day, quiet arrives before the crowds do.
About 70% of Jisimdo's trees are camellias, and seen from above, the island's shape resembles the Chinese character '心' (heart) — hence its name. Even at midday, the dense camellia forest forms a shaded tunnel, so walking through it feels like the forest itself becomes the path.
Camellias bloom from December through April, peaking in February and March. In September there are no flowers, but visitors get deep-green evergreen camellia woods and cooling sea breezes instead — return in winter or spring and the same forest shows an entirely different face.
Getting there from Seoul: take the KTX to Busan, transfer at Busan Seobu Intercity Bus Terminal to an intercity bus bound for Jangseungpo in Geoje (about an hour since the Geoga Bridge opened), then catch the ferry to Jisimdo from Jangseungpo Port. Boats run five times a day between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at roughly two-hour intervals; fares are 14,000 won for adults and 7,000 won for children. (Schedules can shift tentatively with season and weather, so check the island's official site or the pier before you go.)
Quick reference: Ferry fare — 14,000 won adults / 7,000 won children. Sailings — five daily, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., roughly every two hours (tentative). No island entry fee. Lodging — several guesthouses (inquiries: 055-681-6007). Camellia peak bloom — February-March.
If you're worn out from crowds, consider a day on this small island you can only reach by boat, not a bridge, with nothing but birdsong for company. If you've been to Jisimdo or plan to go, drop your photos and tips in the Korea Tourism Times open chat for the next traveler.
By Kim Youn Young, Korea Tourism Times